Palo Alto College names two finalists for president’s job

Alamo Colleges officials have narrowed the hunt for Palo Alto College’s next president to two candidates — one is the college’s interim vice president of academic affairs and the second was previously El Paso Community College’s interim president.

Officials will interview the candidates and hold a public forum for each in late August, according to the college’s website.

The website states that insider and San Antonio native Ruben Michael “Mike” Flores has 19 years of higher education experience. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio, his master’s in the same subject from Illinois State University and his doctorate from the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas at Austin.

In 1999, he joined PAC and led programs for institutional research, strategic planning and resource development. He’s since climbed the ranks, becoming dean of institutional effectiveness and community development, vice president of college services and vice president of student services before taking on his current role. See his resume here.

According to the college’s website, the second candidate, Ernst E. Roberts II earned his bachelor’s in psychology and pre-medicine from West Virginia University, his master’s in psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso and his doctorate in higher education from Texas Tech University. He began teaching in El Paso Community College’s psychology department in 1978 before becoming tenured faculty there and working his way up to his current post as interim president. See his resume here.

The public can join in a forum with Roberts 4:15-5:15 p.m. in Pedernales 109 on Aug. 30. Flores’ forum will be 4:15-5:15 p.m. in the same location on Aug. 31.